How do you define a "revision?"

Question

My question to everyone is:

What do you mean when you say 'revision?'

Is it taking a couple sentences out and adding one or two in?

Is it re-writing the whole thing from scratch?

Is it editing the grammar only?

I personally tweak my essays every time I look at it: rewording a sentence, deleting one, adding a new one, correcting some grammar, etc...

I don't count that as a revision at all. It's a "revision" when I'm happy with it and start showing people the draft. Then the next batch of edits will become a 2nd revision, and so forth.

If we can understand what everyone's "revision" means, we won't get as freaked out when people say "I've done 100 revisions on this essay and saved a copy of each of them!" (hi rhyme!

)

jjanders · Answer

I'm with you. Typically I'll go through 2-4 "revisions" before I consider it final

shmegs · Answer

I agree with you too. To me, proof reading and correcting small mistakes are part of the writing process. A revision is when I get outside feedback on the essays and then change them accordingly. But then again it's all symantics...it's the same amount of work even if you consider re-writing a few sentences a revision. G'luck with the essays.

ishcabibble · Answer

I had kind of been wondering about that too. I think I agree with all of you who said that a revision is some kind of substantive change. I think I did about 4 revisions under that definition.

riverripper · Answer

I consider it a revision if I am working on the content, after I do a revision the pages are covered in pen marks. If I am just editting for grammar and style not content then its not a revisions...so if there are marks here or there then thats just a quick review.

This is my current plan of attack on essays...working on Kellogg at the moment since they seem to be the ideal first essays to do.

 Rough draft ...usually way to long has tons of ideas and material

 Rev 1:  Take out stuff that doesnt add anything and refine stories (still very long)

 Rev 2:  Try and make everything clear and to the point. Make sure paragraphs flow together and they make sense. (still 50% too long)

 Rev 3:  Cut it down close to the final length by picking what stories and paragraphs are most effective...move materials and combine stuff as needed to get it down to length (within 10% of limit)

  Send to several people for review  

 Rev 4:  Address comments from reviewers, clarify as necessary and eliminate none-value adding material

  Resubmit to reviewers.  

 Rev 5:  Address any further comments and complete grammar and style review to ensure that its the best it can be.

 Final Draft:  Send to reviewers and hope everyone loves it.

jjanders · Answer

I am lucky because my Stepmom is a freelance writer/editor, so I tell her to have no mercy with my drafts. Hopefully this leads to killer essays

sangoman · Answer

how many ppl are you guys showing your drafts to??

riverripper · Answer

3 or 4. I am lucky that I have some very good writers and editors to help me

My brother was an english major in college and award winning writer. Now works in advertising and is helping me market myself so to speak.
My dad who is a published author and is now teaching high school english (retired school superintendant) 
A friend who is an editor at a publisher
and of course my lovely wife because she wants to read them and always gives me glowing praise that helps the ego through this horribly stressful time.

kryzak · Answer

thanks for all the feedback everyone. 

Good plan riverripper... here's my rough plan:

 Rev 1:  rough draft, everything written out, edited down to near the word limit with all the relevant info kept in. roughly riverripper's "Rev 3".

  Have friends and MBA students review:  
 
Rev 2:  Incorporate comments, reword and rewrite sections if necessary, really focus on content, readability, grammar, and feel.
 
 Have friends take a 2nd look:  

 Rev 3:  final touches, final draft. Come back to it a few weeks later after other school's essays and see if I still like it or incorporate new learnings from campus visits or from writing other essays.

lepium · Answer

You've got the execution covered. Now if the material is very good or above, you'd have killer essays. On the other hand if the material is bad, you'd have beautifully executed yet crappy essays. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not picking on you, I'm just using your comment to state my opinions on the subject.

L.

aviroop · Answer

Does saving the word file as a different name count as a revision?? :lol:

sangoman · Answer

I am in a fix......I have few ppl to review my essays (as in ppl whose opinion matters). An I was cribbing abt this in front of my mom. An then she offered to review them. 

Now, I love my mom to bits, but I really dont see her as an Ad-com sortof person. Still I guess she will be able to catch my grammer errors

How do you define a "revision?"

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